Based on the book “Teaching Kids Authentic Worship”By Kathleen Chapman

What keeps kids interested in What keeps kids interested in God?God?

• Children that know only of God vs. Children that know only of God vs. knowing God personally tend to knowing God personally tend to reach an age where they no longer reach an age where they no longer want to go to churchwant to go to church

• What is it that sticks kids to Christ for What is it that sticks kids to Christ for life?life?

• Authentic worship is the glue that Authentic worship is the glue that holds them to the truthholds them to the truth

What is Authentic worship?What is Authentic worship?

• True (authentic) worship is adoring True (authentic) worship is adoring God alone without ever mentioning God alone without ever mentioning yourself.yourself.

• There is a different between worship There is a different between worship and praiseand praise

• Worship speaks only of God, not about Worship speaks only of God, not about our needs or feelingsour needs or feelings

• Praise is about our response to what Praise is about our response to what God has done for usGod has done for us

AdorationAdoration

• Worship is about God- all adoration, Worship is about God- all adoration, awe, devotion, homage, honor, awe, devotion, homage, honor, reverence and wonder for who God is reverence and wonder for who God is and what He has doneand what He has done

• Worship is thinking on purpose, with Worship is thinking on purpose, with a genuine heart, interest and a genuine heart, interest and knowledge about Godknowledge about God

• The glory, attribute, creations and The glory, attribute, creations and practices of Godpractices of God

The Priority of WorshipThe Priority of Worship

• Worship must come first and foremostWorship must come first and foremost

• Worship first then serviceWorship first then service

• Service flows out of worshipService flows out of worship

• Service as a substitute for worship is Service as a substitute for worship is idolatryidolatry

• Where what we are doing gets more Where what we are doing gets more focus than who God is focus than who God is

Are children capable of Are children capable of worship?worship?• It is easy for children to worship things It is easy for children to worship things

that fascinate and interest them, that fascinate and interest them, examplesexamples

are singers, athletes, collections, and are singers, athletes, collections, and video gamesvideo games

• Information (know vs. know about) Information (know vs. know about) doesn’t equal worshipdoesn’t equal worship

• The “adoration for the sake of adoration” The “adoration for the sake of adoration” element must be part of the equation. element must be part of the equation.

Have we presented Christ in Have we presented Christ in such a way that kids are such a way that kids are fascinated by Him? fascinated by Him? • Children are perceptive, they will Children are perceptive, they will

sense if we know Him, they will sense sense if we know Him, they will sense our adoration and awe.our adoration and awe.

• The specific attribute of God The specific attribute of God fascinate children if they are fascinate children if they are communicated in kid friendly communicated in kid friendly language. language.

• Knowing leads to understanding, Knowing leads to understanding, believing is the next stepbelieving is the next step

Knowing God through the Knowing God through the WordWord

• There are over 100 names of God in There are over 100 names of God in scripture. Each name describes an scripture. Each name describes an attribute of God. attribute of God.

• To study and know these from To study and know these from memory is a exciting act of worshipmemory is a exciting act of worship

• Understanding the meaning of each Understanding the meaning of each name of God will draw you closer to name of God will draw you closer to HimHim

Emotion and WorshipEmotion and Worship

• Are our kids so taken with God they “glow” Are our kids so taken with God they “glow” when they talk about him?when they talk about him?

• When was the last time just thinking about When was the last time just thinking about His greatness and love made tears run His greatness and love made tears run down your face?down your face?

• Have your kids ever shed tears over the Have your kids ever shed tears over the things of God?things of God?

• When was the last time you showed such When was the last time you showed such depthdepth

of emotion?of emotion?

““Let your tears run down like a riverLet your tears run down like a river

day and night;day and night;

Give yourself no relief;Give yourself no relief;

Let your eyes have no rest…Let your eyes have no rest…

Pour out your heart like waterPour out your heart like water

before the presence of the LORD.before the presence of the LORD.

Lift up your hands to HimLift up your hands to Him

For the life of your little ones For the life of your little ones

Who are faint because of hunger.”Who are faint because of hunger.”

Lamentations 2:18-19 Lamentations 2:18-19

Teaching how to Worship vs. Teaching how to Worship vs. Leading WorshipLeading Worship

• Communicate vital concepts in kid Communicate vital concepts in kid friendly language- salvation, worship, friendly language- salvation, worship, the names of God, the attributes of Godthe names of God, the attributes of God

• Ask them lots of questions to evaluate Ask them lots of questions to evaluate understanding and spiritual condition understanding and spiritual condition and growthand growth

• Children have to be taught how to focusChildren have to be taught how to focus

on God, and not just lead in worshipon God, and not just lead in worship

The Art of FocusThe Art of Focus

Children learn focus in schoolChildren learn focus in schoolHomework requires focusHomework requires focus

Music lessons require disciplined focusMusic lessons require disciplined focusPlaying sports requires focusPlaying sports requires focusMusical theatre takes focusMusical theatre takes focus

Why should we settle for less discipline and Why should we settle for less discipline and concentration when it affects kid’s concentration when it affects kid’s

relationships with God? If we are to obey relationships with God? If we are to obey God’s Word, we must teach this truth to God’s Word, we must teach this truth to

our children. our children.

FamiliarityFamiliarity

• Spiritual familiarity doesn’t just happen!Spiritual familiarity doesn’t just happen!

• If a child accepts Jesus as personal Savior at If a child accepts Jesus as personal Savior at five years of age, wouldn’t it be wonderful if five years of age, wouldn’t it be wonderful if he or she automatically acquired a passion he or she automatically acquired a passion and desire to be in God’s house?and desire to be in God’s house?

• Wouldn’t it be trilling to see a child beg to Wouldn’t it be trilling to see a child beg to worship?worship?

• It doesn’t happen that way, we must teach It doesn’t happen that way, we must teach them what to do next and repeat it over them what to do next and repeat it over and overand over

How can we Not?How can we Not?

The question is not how can we teach The question is not how can we teach our children to have a worship our children to have a worship

relationship with God, but rather how relationship with God, but rather how can we not?can we not?

We must give children the opportunityWe must give children the opportunity

To be so familiar with this knowledge To be so familiar with this knowledge that they will experience that they will experience

a lifelong bond with our Savior.a lifelong bond with our Savior.

A Plan for WorshipA Plan for Worship

• Planning is the key to successfully Planning is the key to successfully teaching a child in any areateaching a child in any area

• On purpose planningOn purpose planning

• Create a worship place- a sense of Create a worship place- a sense of quietquiet

structurestructure

• Allow three to four minutes to start for Allow three to four minutes to start for worship moments adding graduallyworship moments adding gradually

more tips …more tips …

• Worship takes practiceWorship takes practice note: do not use the word worship unless note: do not use the word worship unless

you are going to immediately focus on you are going to immediately focus on GodGod

• Use creative worship moment formatsUse creative worship moment formats• When children grasp this concept, this When children grasp this concept, this

looking at God, they begin responding to looking at God, they begin responding to this closeness.this closeness.

• This relationship begins to shineThis relationship begins to shine

Worship Moment FormatsWorship Moment Formats

• Worship SongsWorship Songs

A worship song is one that talks about God, A worship song is one that talks about God, not us. Remember this clear-cut explanation not us. Remember this clear-cut explanation helps teach children the meaning of worship.helps teach children the meaning of worship.

Read the lyrics of the songs carefully.Read the lyrics of the songs carefully.

Look for songs that don’t have a lot of “me”, Look for songs that don’t have a lot of “me”, “us”, “we”, “our”, or “I”“us”, “we”, “our”, or “I”

• A worship song allows children to sing about A worship song allows children to sing about God without mentioning any form of self.God without mentioning any form of self.

• Worship With HandsWorship With Hands Done to music without singing. Done to music without singing.

Worshipful choreography with hands Worshipful choreography with hands and arms.and arms.

Learning sign language will add to Learning sign language will add to your movementsyour movements

• Worship DanceWorship Dance• Worship Drama- the content must Worship Drama- the content must

focus on God, pointing children to Godfocus on God, pointing children to God• Bible Stories- try telling a Bible Story Bible Stories- try telling a Bible Story

from God’s point of viewfrom God’s point of view• Worship ActivitiesWorship Activities• Worship Object LessonsWorship Object Lessons

The Benefits of WorshipThe Benefits of Worship

Worship ….Worship ….• Blesses- “A faithful man will abound with Blesses- “A faithful man will abound with

blessings.” Proverbs 28:20blessings.” Proverbs 28:20• Heals- “For I am the Lord who heals you” Heals- “For I am the Lord who heals you”

Exodus 15:26Exodus 15:26• Empowers- “He is my strength, my shield Empowers- “He is my strength, my shield

from every danger. I trusted in Him, and He from every danger. I trusted in Him, and He helped me.” Psalm 28:7helped me.” Psalm 28:7

• Is spiritual protection- “You will keep him in Is spiritual protection- “You will keep him in perfect peace, who’s mind is stayed on perfect peace, who’s mind is stayed on you.” Isaiah 26:3you.” Isaiah 26:3

• Ensures purity- “…whatever is pure … Ensures purity- “…whatever is pure … meditate meditate

on these things [think, focus, familiarize, on these things [think, focus, familiarize, worship] on these things.” Philippians 4:8worship] on these things.” Philippians 4:8

Worship Moments to ShareWorship Moments to Share

• After singing worship songs ask After singing worship songs ask childrenchildren

what they heard about God in the lyricswhat they heard about God in the lyrics• Learn sign language for a worship songLearn sign language for a worship song• Lead a child in worship dance, then let Lead a child in worship dance, then let

them express themselvesthem express themselves• Act out “Paul and Silas in Prison”, then Act out “Paul and Silas in Prison”, then

worship in the dark (or with flashlight)worship in the dark (or with flashlight)• Seek out or write other worship dramas Seek out or write other worship dramas

• ““You are” activity- have children list as You are” activity- have children list as many things about God as they can, many things about God as they can, addressing it to God himselfaddressing it to God himself

• Have them find scripture with as any Have them find scripture with as any names of God as they can findnames of God as they can find

• Tell Bible stories from God’s point of viewTell Bible stories from God’s point of view• Cut out pictures that could illustrate the Cut out pictures that could illustrate the

nature or character of Godnature or character of God• Object Lessons (glow in the dark stars, Object Lessons (glow in the dark stars,

dolls, sound effects, seeds and paper dolls, sound effects, seeds and paper snowflakes, nature walk) discuss the snowflakes, nature walk) discuss the imagination of the Creator imagination of the Creator

• Share person stories that illustrate God’s Share person stories that illustrate God’s character character

• Write a worship song, use a familiar tuneWrite a worship song, use a familiar tune• Read scriptures slowly with lots of expression Read scriptures slowly with lots of expression

a passage that points to, or talks only of Goda passage that points to, or talks only of God• Read scriptures written about the promises of Read scriptures written about the promises of

God, discuss what they say about His natureGod, discuss what they say about His nature• Worship the God of Miracles- watch video clips Worship the God of Miracles- watch video clips

or read stories about miracles and healing, or read stories about miracles and healing, sharing attributes sharing attributes

• Worship and the Cross- tell the story of the Worship and the Cross- tell the story of the crucifixion stressing “God is love”crucifixion stressing “God is love”

• Pray that God will show you countless ways to Pray that God will show you countless ways to teach children how awesome our God is! Pray teach children how awesome our God is! Pray for zeal and passion to share with others!for zeal and passion to share with others!